STOCKTON - The difference between hunger and health. Or what it takes to learn to read. Or creating a haven for those escaping abuse.

The United Way of San Joaquin is a difference maker for the county's neediest and most desperate residents. It's been that way since 1926, when the charity lifeline began in Stockton as Community Chest.

But United Way, for the first time in recent history, "is experiencing the strain of trying to pay its own bills," President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Prokop said.

The nonprofit organization has cut its operating staff in half but is still struggling financially.

The situation prompted Prokop earlier this month to post a rare online plea: "We are experiencing a dramatic downturn in the donations that can be used to cover the overhead/operating expenses of the United Way."

Most of the money raised through the annual United Way campaign is designated for specific nonprofit groups. This year's goal is $3.2 million, down from a peak $5 million campaign in 2006.

A smaller portion of the contributions, around $450,000 annually, is not designated. This unrestricted money is distributed through the Community Impact Fund. United Way's board is projecting a $100,000 drop in that pool this year.

And that's the only place Prokop and his staff can turn when they need to backfill operating costs. "Doing that takes away from our real purpose," Prokop said.

St. Mary's Dining Room, in downtown Stockton, has experienced the ebb and flow of the Community Impact Fund. St. Mary's feeds and cares for more than 700 individuals a day.

Edward Figueroa is the chief executive officer.

"The impact of the funds are essential to our agency and our efforts to care for our community's homeless and financially burdened," Figueroa said. "With the decline in donations, ... our local United Way is placed in the difficult position of how best to allocate these limited dollars."

From 1999 to 2005, United Way of San Joaquin stood apart from its counterparts in other counties. Operations were underwritten during that period by the Business Council of San Joaquin, a coalition of business, banking and development interests.

But as the economy turned downward, corporate underwriting began to decline.

"There used to be 10 banks on the council. Now there are two," said Bill Adamson, a United Way financial adviser and consultant with the Schwartz Giannini Lantsberger & Adamson accounting firm. "And developers used to play a large role. The configuration of business in the community has changed."

As large corporations struggled through the downturn, they focused inward and began reducing annual gifts to United Way. Lodi-based General Mills, the county's first company to contribute a combined $100,000 in corporate and individual giving, is one of the few remaining rock-solid donors.

In 2008, United Way, "sheepishly ... humbly," in Prokop's words, added a 10 percent processing fee to all donations. The United Way norm across the nation is closer to 20 percent.

That hasn't been enough.

Remarkably, individual donations - and the support of small businesses - have stayed steady.

"Hundreds of businesses across the county continue to contribute the same dollar amount," said Donna Ng, operations director and a United Way employee for 35 years. "We've lost many large donors. However, individual small donors have remained fairly constant."

More than 60,000 residents countywide contribute each year. San Joaquin County is home to 685,306 residents.

There are five full-time employees left in the office that had a staff of 15 at its peak.

The local dropoff in giving is mirrored nationwide. And, if anything, United Way of San Joaquin is doing better than its counterparts. Why?

Prokop deflects the praise and tries to remain focused on the task of fundraising for others.

"For us, getting the door cracked open for the message of our communities' nonprofits is crucial," Prokop said. "That still works. It helps people feel good about their donations. We need to keep our current relationships and forge new connections. The majority of our work is the workplace campaign, where we spend quality time in front of a group of employees and share the community's needs."

United Way makes a difference.

"Their ability to provide donors with the opportunity to have their donations made through payroll deductions is something we as charities are not able to do," Figueroa said. "Our ability to provide hot, nutritious meals is impacted when these funds are not received."